Serengeti, Katavi and Mahale: Wilderness Africa at its Very Best.
Tour Introduction
Venturing well off the main Tanzanian tourist circuit, this tour must rate as one of the wildest safaris to be had in all Africa. You begin by flying into the far north of the Serengeti: vast, unspoilt and served by a mere handful of small lodges. Along with great resident game, this area plays host to the wildebeest migration which occurs from July to November.
Next comes Katavi with its wide open spaces, huge wildlife congregations and small wilderness camps. Finally, Mahale gives exclusive access to Africa’s best chimpanzee trekking and primate watching in the lush rainforest which lines the shores of beautiful Lake Tanganyika.
Three fantastic game parks plus three of the very best safari lodges equals the ultimate African wildlife experience.
Full Itinerary
Arrive Kilimanjaro (Arusha). Transfer to domestic airport and take flight to Kogatende. Met on arrival and transfer to lodge in the Serengeti National Park.
Staying at Lamai Serengeti. Includes All Meals.
Enjoy morning and afternoon game drives in Serengeti National Park. The plains here support an exceptional diversity of large game throughout the year with elephant, hippo, black rhino, giraffe, buffalo, eland, Thompson’s and Grant’s gazelles, Burchell’s zebra, lion, leopard, cheetah, spotted hyena and many more. During the annual wildebeest migration, the nearby Mara River offers one of the more spectacular crossing points where the massing animals run the gauntlet of waiting crocodiles and lions.
Staying at Lamai Serengeti. Includes All Meals.
Enjoy morning and afternoon games drives in the world famous Serengeti National Park.
Staying at Lamai Serengeti. Includes All Meals.
Transfer to airstrip and take flight to Katavi Plains National Park. Remote and wild, Katavi covers 4,500 sq km, making it Tanzania’s third largest park. There is a high concentration of hippo, crocodile, buffalo, impala, eland, topi and zebra, while lion and leopard are never far away.
Staying at Katavi Chada Camp. Includes All Meals.
Morning and afternoon safaris in the wilderness of Katavi National Park. Large herds of buffalo and other herbivores are commonplace even around the camp and the park supports a particularly large zebra population. Other common species include topi, hartebeest, eland, waterbuck, impala, southern and bohor reedbuck, giraffe, warthog and the rare roan antelope. The park’s waterways contain large densities of hippo and crocodile. Carnivores are well represented too with lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog, spotted hyena, caracal, serval and African wild cat. The bird, reptile and butterfly diversity is also very impressive.
Staying at Katavi Chada Camp. Includes All Meals.
Another day of safaris and guided walks in Katavi Plains National Park.
Staying at Katavi Chada Camp. Includes All Meals.
Transfer to airstrip and take flight to Mahale. Met on arrival and board boat for transfer to the lodge in the lush Mahale Mountains National Park. The lodge is within hiking distance from the world’s largest populations of habituated chimpanzees.
Staying at Greystoke Mahale. Includes All Meals.
Morning chimpanzee trekking (on a shared basis). Afternoon free for relaxation or lake activities. As well as chimpanzees, there are eight other species of primate, various other forest mammals, leopards, birds, butterflies, giant vines and waterfalls to discover. The lake in front of the lodge itself is beautiful with crystal clear water, kayaking, fishing and a white sand beach - great for relaxing between close chimp encounters.
Staying at Greystoke Mahale. Includes All Meals.
Morning chimpanzee trekking (on a shared basis). Afternoon free for relaxation or lake activities.
Staying at Greystoke Mahale. Includes All Meals.
Morning chimpanzee trekking (on a shared basis). Afternoon free for relaxation or lake activities.
Staying at Greystoke Mahale. Includes All Meals.
Free morning to relax and then transfer by boat back to the airstrip. Take a shared charter flight to Kilimanjaro (Arusha). Day use of hotel. Check-in for international flight home.
Includes In-flight Meals.
Tour Accommodation
Lamai Serengeti
Overview
Destined to be one of the iconic lodges of Africa, this relatively new lodge is located in the far north of Serengeti National Park in a remote area well away from the main tourist routes and, from July to November, home to large numbers of migrating wildebeest, zebra and antelope.
Lamai Serengeti is constructed around the Kogakuria kopje, a beautiful granite outcrop with stunning views over the plains to the hills of Kenya’s Masaai Mara in the distance. Near Lamai, the Mara River is the scene for many death defying wildebeest crossings during the famous migration.
There are twelve rooms in total, split between the main camp and an additional smaller, more private camp which houses just four rooms and features its own dining room and swimming pool. All the rooms are very homely with smart wooden floors, cosy rugs, mini-bar, cupboard and comfortable king size beds with mosquito net. Two of the rooms have been designed especially for families and have two bedrooms with a shared bathroom. The rooms have 24hr electricity and UK-style three-pin power sockets for charging your equipment.
The cooking is very good with both African and international cuisine featured. There are two swimming pools at the camp and a lounge (with free Wi-Fi) in which to enjoy relaxing and sharing the day’s experiences with other guests. The guiding is excellent and safaris are in open sided 4x4s providing excellent visibility. When the grass is low, guided walks are also possible with an armed scout and guide.
The easiest way to reach this remote camp is to fly into Kogatende airstrip, but Lamai Serengeti can also be reached overland from other parts of the Serengeti.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Restaurant, bar, lounge, swimming pool, private bathrooms with hot water showers and flush toilets, 24 hr electricity in each room, Wi-Fi in central lounge and laundry service.
Local Wildlife
The plains here support an exceptional diversity of large game throughout the year with elephant, hippo, black rhino, giraffe, buffalo, eland, Thompson’s and Grant’s gazelles, Burchell’s zebra, lion, leopard, cheetah, spotted hyena and many more. During the annual wildebeest migration, the nearby Grumeti River offers one of the more spectacular crossing points where the massing animals run the gauntlet of waiting crocodiles and lions.
Optional Activities
Game drives and walking tours.
Chada Katavi
Overview
Over 20 years old and little changed in that time, Chada Katavi is an intimate, high end tented lodge in a superb wildlife location within one of Tanzania’s least visited yet most rewarding parks. The camp is a simple and traditional east African safari-style affair, located in a copse of woodland on the edge of the great Chada Plain.
Raised on wooden decking to increase ventilation, the six tents are large and airy and come with en suite bathrooms with eco-flush toilets and hot bucket showers to help conserve scarce water. The main tent contains the dining room and lounge with its small natural history library.
The food and service at the camp are second to none and you explore by a series of game drives in open-sided 4×4 and walking tours. A stay includes all meals, excursions, all drinks (local brands) and a complimentary laundry service.
Remote and little visited, Katavi National Park was established in 1974 to protect 4,500 sq km of pristine wilderness, making it Tanzania’s third largest park. It is closed during the rains and sits on a watery flood plain that includes vast areas of miombo and acacia woodland, rivers, swamps, palm groves and shallow lakes. There is a high concentration of hippo, crocodile, buffalo, impala, eland, topi and zebra, while lion and leopard are never far away.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Restaurant, bar, lounge, private bathrooms (solar powered hot water), verandah, hammock, electronic safety deposit box and laundry service.
Local Wildlife
Large herds of buffalo and other herbivores are commonplace, even around the camp, and the park supports a particularly large zebra population. Other common species include topi, hartebeest, eland, waterbuck, impala, southern and bohor reedbuck, giraffe, warthog and the rare roan antelope. The park’s waterways also support high densities of hippo and crocodile. Carnivores are well represented too with lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog, spotted hyena, caracal, serval and African wild cat all present. The bird, reptile and butterfly diversity is also very impressive.
Optional Activities
Game drives and walking tours. Fly camping is also on offer, enabling total immersion in the wilderness of Katavi.
Greystoke Mahale
Overview
Located on a pristine, sandy beach on the banks of Lake Tanganyika with the slopes of the Mahale Mountains rising behind, the highly regarded Greystoke Mahale lodge offers quite exceptional accommodation and some of the world’s best primate tracking.
There are a mere six exquisite, thatched bandas, carefully constructed using sustainably sourced local materials and overlooking the beach and lake. Each comes with a private bathroom (reached via a short boardwalk from the tent) with hot and cold running water and flush toilets, a luxurious four poster bed with a dressing room, and an upstairs relaxation deck. The main lodge building sits on the sandy lake shore beach and is open sided to let in the welcoming cool breeze. It houses the dining room, bar and a small lounge area with a variety of natural history titles. Meals are superb, featuring plenty of fresh vegetables and local fish.
Situated more than 60kms from the nearest road and backed by pristine forest, Greystoke Mahale is within hiking distance of the world’s largest population of habituated chimpanzees. They can take some hours of steep walking to find (a good level of fitness is required), particularly if feeding on trees high on the mountain slopes: however, chimps can often be found in the forests just behind the camp – indeed, it is not unheard of for individuals to wander past the restaurant at meals times.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Restaurant, bar, lounge, library and private bathroom (hot water shower and flush toilet).
Local Wildlife
Habituated chimpanzees are the undoubted wildlife highlight, often allowing a close approach for excellent photographic opportunities. An incredible nine other species of primate occur in the mountains including Angola black-and-white colobus, grivet, blue and red-tailed monkeys and yellow baboons. Other fauna includes hippo, bushbuck, bushpig and a plethora of birds, butterflies and reptiles.
Optional Activities
Beside chimp tracking and wildlife spotting, sailing, swimming and kayaking can also be arranged. Swimming and snorkelling are no longer advised due to the danger from crocodiles.
Route Map
Departure Dates
Travel Information
Are International Flights Included?
No. Please contact us for a quote if required.
Flight Info:
Domestic flights within Tanzania are included.
Best Visited:
June to October
Are you ATOL Registered?
Yes. This means we are legally able to book your international flights in conjunction with your ground arrangements so you can book with us with complete confidence. Read more about our ATOL license here.
Jonathan Morris
Area Specialist
This itinerary works with any of the lodges in the Serengeti. Ask our consultants about which would be best for the migration at the time you are travelling, or switch to one of the mobile camps that shift their location throughout the year.
If you have any questions regarding this Tour, please feel free to contact me on +44 (0)1803 866965
We had a superb holiday [in Tanzania]. I was particularly struck by the variety in the bush. I wasn’t expecting such diversity of trees and colours. Fabulous wildlife. The arrangements all went like clockwork making the whole holiday very relaxed. It worked very well with the children…they were welcomed everywhere.
